Device and method for feeding food

ABSTRACT

A feeding apparatus aimed at efficiently supplying feed to chicks in a chick box, which can hold the feed in the chick box and can supply the feed to the chicks in the chick box, wherein the feed is supplied to the chicks in the chick box by means of a feeding apparatus which can maintain the feed at the height of the chicks&#39; beaks when they are standing.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a feeding apparatus for feedingchicks in a chick box, and to a method of feeding.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Infection of chicken eggs by Salmonella (such as SalmonellaEnteritidis (SE)) is one of the principal causes of Salmonella foodpoisoning.

[0003] When a laying hen is infected with Salmonella, the infectionspreads in the body to the ovaries and oviducts, and penetrates theeggs. Consequently, the interior of an egg is already contaminated withSalmonella when it is laid. Salmonella contamination cannot be detectedby external inspection, and internal contamination cannot be removed bythe washing process at grading and packaging centers (the plants wherechicken eggs are cleaned, graded by size and packaged) Even whenchickens are infected with Salmonella, the rate of Salmonellacontamination in the eggs produced is only about 0.01-1%, but if sucheggs are not exposed to sufficient heat during preparation the bacteriamay survive and proliferate to the point of causing food poisoning.Lower bacterial numbers are required to cause food poisoning in peoplewith low resistance such as infants and the sick and elderly than inhealthy adults.

[0004] Measures are necessary at all stages in the production anddistribution processes from farm to table in order to ensure thehygienic quality of the eggs and prevent Salmonella food poisoning. Inparticular, it is necessary to reduce Salmonella infection rates inchicken flocks.

[0005] Under current poultry practices, however, chicks are produced inhatcheries without any contact with their parents, and are thoroughlydisinfected at each stage in order to prevent the transmission ofdisease from breeding stock. As a result, the chicks do not receive fromtheir parents the beneficial intestinal flora that they need to protectthem against intestinal pathogens, and are extremely vulnerable toSalmonella at juveniles. When such chicks are then raised in the normalway in the field, it requires six weeks or more for them to develop theintestinal flora that they need to protect them against Salmonellainfection.

[0006] Consequently, it is thought that Salmonella infection rates inflocks are affected by Salmonella infection of juvenile chicks withimmature intestinal flora, and therefore a reduction in Salmonellainfection rates among chicks is necessary in order to reduce Salmonellainfection rates in flocks.

[0007] A method has already been developed of effectively preventingSalmonella infection by the controlled administration of adultintestinal flora to chicks (E. Nurmi and M. Rantala, New aspects ofSalmonella infection in broiler industry, Nature 241:210-211 (1973).Using this method, proliferation of Salmonella in the bodies of chicksis effectively prevented even if they are orally infected, and the highlevel of excretion normally seen in the field does not occur. Thismethod is known as the Competitive Exclusion or Nurmi method.

[0008] In general, the anaerobically cultured cecal contents, mucousmembrane of the gut or feces of adult birds are used to inoculate thechicks with intestinal flora. This is known as an Undefined Culturebecause the species and numbers of bacteria cannot be preciselyidentified. Products are also available in which the bacterial speciesand numbers in an Undefined Culture have been identified throughlong-term continuous culture, or in which pure bacterial culturesisolated from Undefined Cultures have been mixed together. These areknown as Defined Cultures because the bacterial species and numbers havebeen identified. Undefined Cultures and Defined Cultures are knowncollectively as Competitive Exclusion Cultures (CE Cultures).

[0009] In order for such Competitive Exclusion Cultures to be used toprevent Salmonella contamination, they must be administered to thechicks in the necessary quantity as soon as possible after hatching.

[0010] Oral administration to individual chicks as in a laboratory isideal for this purpose, but this method is too labor- and time-intensiveand consequently too expensive for application in the field. Under fieldconditions, spraying of hatching eggs and misting of chicks are used inthe hatcheries and administration through drinking water on the farm.

[0011] Unfortunately, it is difficult to administer a sufficientquantity of Competitive Exclusion Culture to chicks soon enough afterhatching by these methods. In particular, it is difficult to administerthe necessary quantity of Competitive Exclusion Culture in a shortperiod of time to 0-7 day old chicks, which consume little food andwater.

[0012] Under these circumstances, the inventors previously developed aprobiotic composition (a live microbial feed supplement) suitable foradministering the necessary quantity of Competitive Exclusion Culture tochicks as soon as possible after hatching, in which the CompetitiveExclusion Culture is fixed in a gel with polysaccharides which gelate ina water medium (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H11-302185).Using this probiotic composition, the chicks' natural genetic program(habit) of pecking and ingesting solid matter in front of them isexploited to induce them to ingest the necessary quantity of CompetitiveExclusion Culture in a short period of time during the first 7 days oflife when they consume little food or water, and thus to protect themagainst Salmonella contamination.

[0013] However, a feeding apparatus and feeding method have yet to bedeveloped capable of inducing chicks in a chick box to efficientlyingest a probiotic composition in solid gel form.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide a feedingapparatus and feeding method capable of inducing chicks to efficientlyingest feed in a chick box.

[0015] (1) In order to achieve this object, the present inventionprovides a feeding apparatus which can hold feed in a chick box andsupply the feed to chicks in the chick box, wherein the feed can bemaintained at the height of the chicks' beaks when they are standing.

[0016] Newly hatched chicks are not steady on their feet and spend mostof their time sitting, making it easier for them to recognize and ingestfeed placed on the bottom of the chick box, but as time elapses afterhatching they are more steady on their feet and spend more timestanding, making it easier for them to recognize and ingest feed whichis positioned at beak height. Consequently, in the feeding apparatus ofthe present invention, the position of the feed in the chick box ismaintained at the height of the chicks' beaks when they are standing inthe chick box, allowing for more efficient ingestion of feed than if thefeed were placed on the bottom of the chick box.

[0017] Moreover, if feed is placed on the bottom of the chick box, thechicks are likely to step on the feed and scatter it, making itdifficult to ensure that the chicks actually ingest the feed packed inthe feeding apparatus. By contrast, in the feeding apparatus of thepresent invention, stepping on and scattering of the feed by the chicksis prevented by maintaining the position of the feed in the chick box atthe height of the chicks' beaks when standing, ensuring that the feedpacked in the feeding apparatus is actually ingested by the chicks.

[0018] There are no particular limits on the types of feed used with thefeeding apparatus of the present invention, as long as they are fed tothe chicks to achieve the specified objectives, and specific examplesinclude foods, probiotics, vaccines, various drugs and mixtures ofthese. Food may contain ingredients necessary for chick growth such aswater, glucose and other carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins andminerals, while probiotics, vaccines and drugs may contain ingredients(such as Competitive Exclusion Cultures for forming intestinal flora inchicks in the case of probiotics) necessary for maintaining chick health(by increasing resistance to pathogenic bacteria or preventing ortreating various diseases, for example).

[0019] There are no particular limits on the form of feed used with thefeeding apparatus of the present invention, so long as it can be storedwithin the chick box by the feeding apparatus of the present invention,and powdered, granular, liquid and gel forms are all acceptable, but thegel form is preferred. This is because the gel form allows the chicks'genetic program (habit) of pecking and ingesting solid matter in frontof them to be exploited to induce them to ingest the necessary quantityof feed in a short period of time during the first 7 days of life whentheir food and water intake is low.

[0020] Chicks suited to the feeding apparatus of the present inventionmay be the chicks of any bird species, but are ordinarily those ofdomestic poultry such as chickens. There are no particular limits on thechicks' stage of growth (elapsed time after hatching), but the feedingapparatus of the present invention is ideally suited to feeding chicksaged about 0-7 days, a period during which food and water intake is low.The feeding apparatus of the present invention is also best suited tochicks which have been hatched long enough that they spend most of theirtime standing rather than to newly-hatched chicks which are unsteady ontheir feet and spend most of their time sitting down.

[0021] The height at which food is maintained in the feeding apparatusof the present invention is the height of the chicks' beaks when theyare standing in the chick box. The height differs according to thespecies and age of the chicks, but for example if the chick box contains0-2 day old chicken chicks, the height is normally50-100 mm orpreferably 70-90 mm or more preferably 75-85 mm above the surface of thebase of the chick box.

[0022] The position at which feed is maintained in the feeding apparatusof the present invention is not restricted as long as it is at theheight of the chicks' beaks when standing in the chick box, and may benear the center of the chick box or next to the side panel or partition,for example, but a position next to the side panel or partition of thechick box is desirable from the standpoint of preventing obstacle to thechicks in the box.

[0023] There are no particular limits on the shape, structure, size andthe like of the chick box used with the feeding apparatus of the presentinvention as long as it is capable of containing chicks. The chick boxgenerally has a box shape with a base and vertical sides surrounding thebase. In some cases the chick box may have partitions dividing theinterior of the box into several compartments, or it may have a lid. Thetop end portion of the side panel or partition panel of the chick boxmay also be provided with protrusions that fit into holes orindentations in the lid. Examples of chick boxes include rearing boxesused for rearing chicks in a hatchery or farm and transport or shippingboxes used for transporting or shipping chicks from hatchery to farm,and the feeding apparatus of the present invention can be applied to anyof these kinds of boxes.

[0024] There are no particular limits on the shape, structure, size andthe like of the feeding apparatus of the present invention, so long asit can maintain the position of the feed in the chick box at the heightof the chicks' beaks when they are standing, and supply feed to thechicks in the chick box.

[0025] (2) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of thepresent invention, the feeding apparatus comprises a feed containerwhich has an aperture and can contain gel feed, wherein the feedcontainer can be maintained at the height of the chicks' beaks when theyare standing.

[0026] In the present embodiment, the feed container can easily befilled with gel feed through the aperture in the container. Also,because the feed container is maintained at the height of the chicks'beaks when they are standing, the gel feed contained in the feedcontainer is efficiently supplied to the chicks through the aperture inthe feed container.

[0027] In the present embodiment, there are no particular limits on theshape, structure, size and the like of the feed container, so long as ithas an aperture and can contain gel feed. There are also no particularlimits on the shape, size and the like of the aperture of the feedcontainer, so long as the feed container can be filled with gel feedthrough the aperture, and so long as the feed in the feed container canbe supplied to the chicks through the aperture.

[0028] In the present embodiment, the feed container should ideally befilled with gel feed, but may also be filled with powdered, granular,liquid and other feeds as long as they can be contained in the feedcontainer.

[0029] (3) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of thepresent invention, the feed container has a protrusion and/orindentation which can prevent spillage of the gel feed contained in thefeed container.

[0030] Spillage of the gel feed contained in the feed container mayoccur when the gel feed in the feed container is subjected to shock orvibration, as for example when chicks are pecking at and trying to eatthe gel feed in the feed container, or when a chick box equipped withthe feeding apparatus is shipped or transported. In the presentembodiment, the feed container is provided with a protrusion and/orindentation which increases the area of contact between the feedcontainer and the gel feed inside the feed container, thus preventingspillage of the gel feed contained in the feed container and ensuringthat the gel feed in the feed container is ingested by the chicks.

[0031] In the present embodiment, there are no particular limits on theshape, structure, size or the like of the protrusion and/or indentationin the feed container, so long as it increases the area of contactbetween the feed container and the gel feed contained in the feedcontainer.

[0032] (4) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of thepresent invention, the feeding apparatus comprises an aperture directionadjuster which can adjust the aperture direction of the aperture of thefeed container.

[0033] In the present embodiment, the aperture direction of the apertureof the feed container can be adjusted to make it easier for the chicksto recognize and ingest the feed in the feed container, thus allowingthem to ingest the feed in the feed container more efficiently.

[0034] In the present embodiment, there are no particular limits on theshape, structure, size and the like of the aperture direction adjuster,as long as it can adjust the aperture direction of the aperture of thefeed container.

[0035] (5) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of thepresent invention, the feeding apparatus comprises a hanger which canhang on the top end portion of a side panel or partition panel of thechick box, and a suspender which can suspend the feed container from thetop end portion of a side panel or partition panel of the chick box.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the feeding apparatus can easily beinstalled in the chick box by hanging the hanger on the top end portionof a side panel or partition panel of the chick box. The feed containercan also be maintained at the height of the chicks' beaks when they arestanding by suspending the feed container from the top end portion of aside panel or partition panel of the chick box by means of thesuspender. Moreover, installing the feeding apparatus of the presentembodiment near the side panel or partition panel of the chick boxprevents damage to the chicks in the chick box from the feedingapparatus.

[0037] In the present embodiment, there are no particular limits on theshape, structure and the like of the hanger, so long as it can be hungon the top end portion of a side panel or partition panel of the chickbox. There are no particular limits on how the hanger is hung, and forexample it may have a flat part and be hung on the top end portion of aside panel or partition panel of the chick box by laying the flat parton the top end portion, or it may have a hook and be hung on the top endportion of a side panel or partition panel of the chick box by hangingthe hook on the top end portion. In the present embodiment, there arealso no particular limits on the shape, structure and the like of thesuspender, so long as it is capable of suspending the feed containerfrom the top end portion of a side panel or partition panel of the chickbox. The suspenders may suspend the feed containers from both sides of aside panel or partition panel of the chick box (so that the feedcontainers are on opposite sides with the side panel or partition panelbetween them), a feed container may be suspended from only one side.

[0038] (6) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding apparatus of thepresent invention, the hanger has an insertion hole into which can beinserted a protrusion provided at the top end portion of the side panelor partition panel of the chick box.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the hanger is securely fixed to thetop end portion of the side panel or partition panel of the chick box byinserting the protrusion provided at the top end portion of the sidepanel or partition panel of the chick box into the insertion hole of thehanger.

[0040] In the present embodiment, there are no particular limits on theshape, size, position and the like of the insertion hole, so long as aprotrusion provided at the top end portion of a side panel or partitionpanel of the chick box can be inserted therein.

[0041] (7) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, aplurality of the feed containers are provided so that the hanger ispositioned between them.

[0042] In the present embodiment, the feed containers are suspended fromthe top end portion of a side panel or partition panel of the chick boxon both sides of the side panel or partition panel (that is, thesuspended containers are on opposite sides with the side panel orpartition panel between them), allowing for feed to be supplied morecost-effectively to chicks on both sides of the side panel or partitionpanel of the chick box.

[0043] (8) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thefeeding apparatus is made of A-PET.

[0044] In the present embodiment, because A-PET is transparent and canbe incinerated, it is easy to assess consumption of feed in the feedcontainer, and the feeding apparatus can be incinerated while stillinstalled in the chick box.

[0045] (9) Moreover, in order to achieve the said object, the presentinvention provides a feeding method for placing feed in a chick box andsupplying the feed to chicks in the chick box, wherein the feed isplaced at the height of the chicks' beaks when they are standing.

[0046] In the feeding method of the present invention, as in the feedingapparatus of the present invention, the chicks ingest feed moreefficiently than if it were placed on the bottom of the chick boxbecause it is placed at the height of the chicks' beaks when they arestanding in the chick box, which also prevents the chicks from steppingon the feed and scattering it, ensuring that the feed in the chick boxis ingested.

[0047] In the feeding method of the present invention, the suitablechicks, feed, height of the feed in the chick box, position of feed inthe chick box and the like are the same as in the feeding apparatus ofthe present invention, and the feeding method of the present inventionmay be implemented by using the feeding apparatus of the presentinvention. However, the feeding method of the present invention may beimplemented using a feeding apparatus other than the feeding apparatusof the present invention.

[0048] (10) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding method of thepresent invention, the feed is a gel feed.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the use of a gel feed allows thechicks' genetic program (habit) of pecking and trying to eat solidmatter in front of them to be exploited to induce them to eat thenecessary amount of feed in a short period of time during the first 7days of life when they consume little food or water.

[0050] When the feed is in gel form, the gel strength should be about200-2000 g/cm², and when agar is used as the gelatinizer this gelstrength can be obtained with an agar concentration of about 0.5-3.0%,depending on the type of agar.

[0051] (11) In a preferred embodiment of the feeding method of thepresent invention, the feed is colored blue.

[0052] Chicks will eat food that is colored blue by preference over feedthat is uncolored or colored red, green or the like, so in the feedingmethod of the present embodiment the feed is colored blue in order toinduce the chicks to eat the feed efficiently.

[0053] In the present embodiment, the feed contains blue pigment. Thereare no particular limits on the type of blue pigment contained in thefeed as long as it colors the feed blue. Specific examples of bluepigments include Blue No. 4, Blue No. 1 and Blue No. 2, and these can beused individually or in combinations of 2 or more. “Blue” signifies acolor with a spectrum wavelength of 400-500 nm or preferably 450-500 nm.For example, if Blue No. 4 is used as the blue pigment, a colorcorresponding to 0.03-0.1% (w/v) of Blue No. 4 solution is desirable,and a color corresponding to 0.03-0.04% (w/v) of Blue No. 4 solution ismore desirable.

[0054] In the present embodiment, so long as the feed is colored bluethere are no particular limits on the blue pigment content of the feed,which can be adjusted as necessary according to the type of blue pigmentand the properties of the feed, but the blue pigment content should beenough to color all of the feed blue. When the feed is a gel and BlueNo. 4 is used as the blue pigment, it is desirable to adjust the BlueNo. 4 content so that the Blue No. 4 concentration in the feed is0.01-0.5% (w/v), or preferably 0.03-0.1% (w/v), or more preferably0.03-0.04% (w/v).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055]FIG. 1 is an oblique view showing one embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention;

[0056]FIG. 2 is a plane view showing one embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention;

[0057]FIG. 3 is a cross-section showing one embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention;

[0058]FIG. 4 is an oblique view showing one embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention installed on a partition panel of achick box;

[0059]FIG. 5 is a cross-section showing one embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention installed on a partition panel of achick box and supplying feed to chicks in the chick box;

[0060]FIG. 6 is a plane view showing another embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention; and

[0061]FIG. 7 is a plane view showing yet another embodiment of thefeeding apparatus of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0062] An embodiment of the present invention is explained below basedon the drawings.

[0063]FIG. 1 is an oblique view showing one embodiment of the feedingapparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plane view showing thesame embodiment, FIG. 3 is a cross-section showing the same embodiment,FIG. 4 is an oblique view showing the feeding apparatus of the sameembodiment installed on a partition panel of a chick box, and FIG. 5 isa cross-section showing the feeding apparatus of the same embodimentinstalled on a partition panel of a chick box and supplying feed tochicks in the chick box.

[0064] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, feeding apparatus 1 comprises first body11, second body 12, and hanger 4 between first body 11 and second body12.

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, first body 11 and second body 12 eachcomprise feed container 2 having aperture 21, flange 7 around aperture21, aperture direction adjuster 3 for adjusting the aperture directionof aperture 21, and suspender 6 which is connected to flange 7 by meansof aperture direction adjuster 3, and first body 11 and second body 12are positioned symmetrically on either side of hanger 4.

[0066] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, feed container 2 comprisessemi-rectangular base 22 and side panel 23 surrounding base 22, withflange 7 around the top end portion of side panel 23.

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, aperture 21 is formed in asemi-rectangular shape at the top end of feed container 2, so that feedcontainer 2 (the hollow area formed by base 22 and side panel 23 ) canbe filled with gel feed through aperture 21. Also, as shown in FIG. 5,the gel feed F contained in feed container 2 can be ingested by chick Hin chick box 8 through aperture 21. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, thearea of aperture 21 is slightly wider than the area of base 22, makingit easier to pack in gel feed through aperture 21 and to supply feed tochicks.

[0068] Feed container 2 may contain powder, granular or other feed otherthan gel feed, but as shown in FIG. 5, when feed containers 2 aresuspended from the top end portion of partition panel 81 of chick box 8and the feed F in feed containers 2 is supplied to chicks H, theaperture direction of apertures 21 of feed containers 2 is perpendicularor roughly perpendicular to partition panel 81 of chick box 8, so thatfilling feed containers 2 with gel feed makes more sense from thestandpoint of preventing spillage of feed from feed containers 2.Moreover, having feed containers 2 filled with a gel feed allows thechicks' genetic program (habit) of pecking and trying to eat solidmatter in front of them to be exploited to induce them to eat thenecessary quantity of feed in a short period of time during the first 7days of life when they consume little food or water.

[0069] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, first body 11 and second body 12 each haveone feed container 2. It is also possible for first body 11 and secondbody 12 to each have multiple feed containers 2, but as shown in FIGS. 4and 5, when feed containers 2 are suspended from the top end portion ofpartition panel 81 of chick box 8, it is better from the standpoint offeeding as many chicks as possible for first body 11 and first body 12to each have one feed container 2, and for apertures 21 of feedcontainers 2 to be as horizontally long as possible. The horizontallength of apertures 21 of feed containers 2 can be determined as neededaccording to the horizontal length of the partition panel or side panelof the chick box on which feed container 2 is suspended.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, feed containers 2 are parallel to hanger4, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when feed containers 2 are suspendedfrom partition panel 81 of chick box 8, feed containers 2 are maintainedat a fixed height above the surface of bottom 83 of chick box 8. Asshown in FIG. 5 “a fixed height” signifies the height of beaks H1 ofchicks H when they are standing in chick box 8. The height differsaccording to the species and age of the chicks, but for example ifchicks H are 0-2 day old chicks, this height would normally be 50-100 mmor preferably 70-90 mm or more preferably 75-85 mm above Bottom 83 ofchick box 8.

[0071] The structure of feed container 2 may be varied as long as it hasaperture 21 and can contain a gel feed, and it is possible for exampleto form aperture 21 and base 22 in a circular or other shape, or forbase 22 to be curved, or for the areas of aperture 21 and base 22 to beidentical or nearly identical. There are no particular limits on thecapacity of feed container 2, but the capacity should be enough tocontain the quantity of feed necessary to supply all chicks in the chickbox. For example, when providing chicks with a gel probiotic compositioncontaining a competitive exclusion culture for purposes of forming theirintestinal flora, the capacity of feed container 2 should be determinedso that each chick can ingest about 0.5 ml of the probiotic composition;if one feed container 2 is being used to supply 25 chicks with gelprobiotic composition, then the capacity of one feed container 2 shouldbe at least 25 ml. In addition, the depth of feed container 2 should besuch that the chicks can ingest the gel feed contained in feed container2 with their beaks, or about 3-15 mm or preferably 5-10 mm, depending onthe type and stage of development of the chicks.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the surface of base 22 of feed container 2has protrusions 24 (referred to hereunder as “zigzag protrusions 24”)which appear as a zigzag in the plane view (see FIG. 2), while theinside wall of side panel 23 of feed container 2 has protrusions 25(referred to hereunder as “wavy protrusions 25”) which appear wavy inthe plane view (see FIG. 2). Zigzag protrusions 24 and wavy protrusions25 increase the area of contact between feed container 2 and the gelfeed contained in feed container 2, and serve to prevent spillage of thegel feed contained in feed container 2. The shape, position and size ofzigzag protrusions 24 and wavy protrusions 25 may be varied as long asthe area of contact between feed container 2 and the gel feed containedin feed container 2 is increased. Zigzag protrusions 24 and wavyprotrusions 25 may be eliminated or only one may be provided, but fromthe standpoint of effectively preventing spillage of the gel feed it isbetter to have both.

[0073] It is also possible to have indentations in the upper surface ofbottom 22 and the inner wall of side panel 23 of feed container 2. Likethe protrusions, the indentations are designed to prevent spillage ofthe gel feed contained in feed container 2 by increasing the area ofcontact between feed container 2 and the gel feed contained in feedcontainer 2. The shape, position, size and the like of the indentationsmay be determined as appropriate so long as the area of contact betweenfeed container 2 and the gel feed contained in feed container 2 isincreased.

[0074] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, aperture 21 of feed container 2 issurrounded by flat flange 7, the corners of which are rounded. Thecorners of flange 7 are rounded in order to prevent the chicks frombeing injured by the corners of flange 7. The shape, size and the likeof flange 7 may be varied as desired with no particular limitations.Flange 7 may also be eliminated if allowed in molding process forfeeding apparatus 1.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, aperture direction adjuster 3 is formed asa groove between flange 7 and suspender 6. The angle between suspender 6and flange 7 can be adjusted around the axis of this groove to adjustthe aperture direction of aperture 21 of feed container 2. The structureof aperture direction adjuster 3 may be varied as long as it can adjustthe aperture direction of aperture 21 of feed container 2. When it ispossible for the chicks to ingest the gel feed contained in feedcontainer 2 without any adjustment of the aperture direction of aperture21, aperture direction adjuster 3 may be omitted.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, suspender 6 consists of a semi-rectangularsheet which is connected at one end (the bottom in FIG. 2) to flange 7by means of aperture direction adjuster 3, and at the other end (the topin FIG. 2) to the two connectors 41 at both ends of hanger 4 by means ofbends 5. Suspender 6 serves to maintained a fixed distance betweenaperture direction adjuster 3 and hanger 4, thus maintaining a fixeddistance between hanger 4 and feed container 2, which is connected toaperture direction adjuster 3 by means of flange 7. That is, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, when feed container 2 is suspended from the top endportion of partition panel 81 of chick box 8, suspender 6 serves tomaintain feed container 2 at a fixed height above the surface of bottom83 of chick box 8. As shown in FIG. 5, “a fixed height” signifies theheight of the beaks H1 of chicks H when they are standing in chick box8. The shape, structure and the like of Suspender 6 may be varied aslong as it can maintain a fixed distance between feed container 2 andhanger 4, and for example it is possible for suspender 6 to be directlyconnected to feed container 2 (that is, connected to feed container 2without aperture direction adjuster 3 and flange 7).

[0077] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, suspender 6 is provided with grooves 61,which appear semi-rectangular in the plane view (see FIG. 2) and serveto increase the strength of suspender 6. The shape, position, size andthe like of grooves 61 may be varied as long as they increase thestrength of suspender 6, and they may also be omitted.

[0078] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, bends 5 are set between hanger 4 and firstbody 11 and between hanger 4 and first body 12, and by bending feedingapparatus 1 by means of bends 5 it is possible to vary the anglesbetween hanger 4 and first body 11 and between hanger 4 and first body12 around the axes of bends 5. The structure of bends 5 may be varied aslong as they can change the angles between hanger 4 and first body 11and between hanger 4 and first body 12, and for example they may begrooved or notched.

[0079] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, hanger 4 is provided between first body 11and second body 12, and includes connectors 41 at both ends of hanger 4,vertical notches 43, which appear vertically in FIG. 2 as though joiningthe opposing ends of bends 5 on both sides of connector 41, andhorizontal notch 42, which appears horizontally in FIG. 2 as thoughjoining the opposing vertical notches 43. Vertical notches 43 andhorizontal notch 42 are shown in bold lines in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0080] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, connectors 41 consist of rectangularsheets which are connected at one end (the bottom in FIG. 2) to firstbody 11 by means of bends 5, and at the other end (the top in FIG. 2) tosecond body 12 by means of bends 5. Connectors 41 serve to connect firstbody 11 to second body 12. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when feedcontainers 2 are suspended from the top end portion of partition panel81 of chick box 8, connectors 41 lie on the top end portion of partitionpanel 81 of chick box 8. The shape, structure and the like of connectors41 may be varied so long as they connects first body 11 to second body12.

[0081] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when feeding apparatus 1 is not bentusing bends 5, hanger 4 lacks an insertion hole, but as shown in FIGS. 4and 5, when feeding apparatus 1 is bent using bends 5, insertion hole 44is formed between the connectors 41 at both ends of hanger 4. Verticalnotches 43 and horizontal notch 42 serve to form insertion hole 44between connectors 41 at both ends of hanger 4 when feeding apparatus 1is bent using bends 5. The position and the like of vertical notches 43and horizontal notch 42 may be varied so long as they can form insertionhole 44 when feeding apparatus 1 is bent by means of bends 5. Also, asshown in FIG. 7, it is possible to make it so that insertion hole 44 canbe formed even when feeding apparatus 1 is not bent by means of bends 5.In the feeding apparatus of the present invention, to say that “thehanger has an insertion hole” may signify either that insertion hole 44is formed only when feeding apparatus 1 is bent by means of bends 5, asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or that insertion hole 44 is formed even whenfeeding apparatus 1 is not bent by means of bends 5, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0082] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, insertion hole 44 is designed to allowthe insertion of protrusion 811, which is provided at the top endportion of partition panel 81 of chick box 8.

[0083] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, hanger 4 is hung on the top endportion of partition panel 81 of chick box 8 by inserting protrusion 811at the top end portion of partition panel 81 into insertion hole 44, andlaying connectors 41 on the top end portion of partition panel 81.

[0084] The material of feeding apparatus 1 is normally synthetic resin.Specific examples include polyethylene, polypropylene,ethylene-propylene copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer,ethylene-vinyl chloride copolymer, vinyl chloride-based resins,vinylidene chloride-based resins, styrene-based resins, acrylic-basedresins, methacrylate-based resins, vinyl proprionate-based resins, vinylacetate-maleic acid-based resins, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate-basedresins, polyvinyl ether-based resins and other thermoplastic resins; andpolyamide (PA), polyacetal (POM), polycarbonate (PC), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polysulfone(PSF), polyethersulfone (PES), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyphenylenesulfide (PPS), polyallylate (PAR), polyether etherketone (PEEK),polyamideimide (PAI), polyimide (PI), polyetherimide (PEI) and otherengineering plastics and the like, which may also be in an amorphousstate.

[0085] An example of a preferred material for feeding apparatus 1 isamorphous PET (A-PET). Because A-PET is highly transparent and alsocombustible, it allows for easy assessment of the consumption of the gelfeed 2 contained in feed container 2, and for feeding apparatus to beincinerated after use while still installed in chick box 8.

[0086] When synthetic resin is used as the material for feedingapparatus 1, feeding apparatus 1 can be molded as a whole according toordinary methods such as press molding or vacuum forming for example.When feeding apparatus 1 is molded as a whole, its thickness is normally0.05-0.5 mm or preferably 0.1-0.3 mm or more preferably 0.15-0.25 mm.

[0087] A method of feeding chicks using feeding apparatus 1 is explainedbelow based on FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0088] Feed containers 2 are filled with gel feed F in order to feedchicks H.

[0089] To install feeding apparatus 1 in chick box 8, feeding apparatus1 is bent by means of bends 5, and the angles between hanger 4 and firstbody 11 and between hanger 4 and first body 12 are adjusted to positionfeed containers 2 below hanger 4.

[0090] When feeding apparatus 1 is bent by means of bend 5, insertionhole 44 is formed between connectors 41 provided at both ends of hanger4.

[0091] Protrusion 811 at the top end portion of partition panel 81 ofchick box 8 is inserted into thus-formed insertion hole 44, andconnectors 41 are laid on top end portion of partition panel 81 to hanghanger 4 on the top end portion of partition panel 81.

[0092] Once hanger 4 is hung on the top end portion of partition panel81, first body 11 and second body 12 are suspended from the top endportion of partition panel 81, and feed containers 2 on first body 11and second body 12 are suspended from partition panel 81 by means ofsuspenders 6, aperture direction adjusters 3 and flanges 7. In this way,feed container 2 and the gel feed F contained in feed container 2 aremaintained in chick box 8 at the height of the beaks H1 of chicks H whenthey are standing in chick box 8. The aperture directions of apertures21 of feed containers 2 are adjusted using aperture direction adjusters3 so as to be perpendicular or roughly perpendicular to partition panel81 of chick box 8.

[0093] Chicks H consume the gel feed F contained in feed containers 2with beaks H1 through apertures 21 of feed containers 2. The gel feed Fwhich is maintained in chick box 8 at the height of beaks H1 of chicks Hwhen standing is easy for chicks H to recognize and ingest. Moreover,the fact that the aperture direction of apertures 2 of feed containers 2is adjusted with aperture direction adjusters 3 to be perpendicular orroughly perpendicular to partition panel 81 of chick box 8 also makes iteasier for chicks H to recognize and ingest gel feed F.

[0094] Feeding apparatus 1 can be installed on the top end portion ofpartition panel 81 of chick box 8 even if there is no protrusion 811 atthe top end portion of partition panel 81. In this case, connectors 41are laid on top end portion of partition panel 81 to hang hanger 4 onpartition 81 and suspend feed containers 2 from the top end portion ofpartition panel 81.

[0095] Feeding apparatus 1 can also be installed on side panel 82 ofchick box 8. When side panel 82 of chick box 8 has a protrusion, thisprotrusion is inserted into insertion hole 44 and connectors 41 are laidon top end portion of side panel 82 to hang hanger 4 on the top endportion of side panel 82 and suspend feed containers 2 from the top endportion of side panel 82. When side panel 82 of chick box 8 lacks aprotrusion (see FIG. 4), connectors 41 are laid on top end portion ofside panel 82 to hang hanger 4 on the top end portion of side panel 82and suspend feed containers 2 from the top end portion of side panel 82.

[0096] When installing feeding apparatus 1 to side panel 82 of chick box8, either first body 11 or second body 12 may be suspended inside chickbox 8. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 6, it is also possible toeliminate either first body 11 or second body 12 from feeding apparatus1 and replace it with sheet 10.

[0097] When installing feeding apparatus 1 on a side panel 82 (orpartition panel 81) which lacks a protrusion at the top end portion,hanger 4 may also be constructed without insertion hole 44, as shown inFIG. 6.

[0098] Feeding apparatus 1 may be used for feeding chicks H in chick box8 when for example chicks H are being reared in chick box 8, or whenchicks H are being kept in chick box 8 during shipping ortransportation.

[0099] The present invention is explained in more detail below usingexamples, but the present invention is not limited by these examples.

[0100] In the examples below, a feeding apparatus 1 having theconstruction shown in FIGS. 1-3 is used as the feeding apparatus. Thefeeding apparatus 1 used in the examples below is about 220 mm long(vertical length in FIG. 2), about 235 mm wide (horizontal length inFIG. 2) and about 0.2 mm thick. In the middle it has hanger 4, on bothends of which are rectangular connectors 41, which are about 8 mm long(vertical length in FIG. 2) and 20 mm wide, as well as vertical notches43, which are about 8 mm long, and horizontal notch 42, which is about195 mm long. The distance between the centers of feed containers 2 andhorizontal notch 42 is about 88 mm. Feed containers 2 havesemi-rectangular apertures 21 which are about 20 mm long (verticallength in FIG. 2) and about 215 mm wide (horizontal length in FIG. 2),and the depth of feed containers 2 is about 9 mm.

[0101] Moreover, in the following examples, a fiber board box consistingof a bottom about 450 mm long by 600 mm wide surrounded by four verticalside panels and having partition panels to divide the inside of the boxinto 4 equal-sized compartments was used as the chick box. The partitionpanels of the chick box were about 165 mm high and about 5 mm thick, andwere provided with protrusions at the top end portion.

[0102] When feeding apparatus 1 is installed on a partition panel ofthis chick box, the centers of feed containers 2 are maintained at aheight of about 80 mm above the bottom of the chick box, and the feedcontained in feed containers 2 is maintained at the height of thechicks' beaks when they are standing.

EXAMPLE 1

[0103] (1) Preparation of Gel Probiotic Composition (Agar SolidifiedInteclean)

[0104] 500 ml of variant VL liquid medium premix (containing 5 gtryptone (Oxoid), 2.5 g sodium chloride, 1.2 g Lab-Lemco powder (Oxoid),2.5 g yeast extract (Difco), 0.2 g cysteine hydrochloride, 1.3 g glucoseand 0.3 g agar per 500 ml) was dissolved in pure water, and afteraddition of 4 g of Ina agar (UM-11) (final agar concentration 0.8%(w/v)), high-pressure steam sterilized for 15 minutes at 121° C. andmaintained at 43° C. This was then inoculated with 0.5 ml of aninoculumof commercial Inteclean (trade name, sold by Itochu Feed Mills) as achicken cecal content culture feed, and cultured anaerobically at 40° C.by the gas pack method. The agar was solidified to prepare a gelprobiotic composition (agar solidified Inteclean) containing a CEculture. The inoculum of Inteclean consisted of a 10% (w/v) emulsion ofcecal contents removed from roughly 300 day-old laying hens with 10%(v/v) glycerine-added GAM medium (Nissui Pharmaceutical), which wasstored frozen before use. The anaerobic culture system of BBL Co.(U.S.A.) was used for the gas pack method. In the gas pack method, theculture is sealed in a special container together with a hydrogengenerating bag and a catalyst, and the action of the catalyst causes thegenerated hydrogen to bind to residual oxygen and form water, exhaustingthe oxygen and forming an anaerobic environment.

[0105] (2) Preparation of Feeding Apparatus and Chick Boxes

[0106] The feed containers of each feeding apparatus were filled with 25ml or 12.5 ml of gel probiotic composition. Eight feeding apparatus withfeed containers filled with 25 ml of gel probiotic composition(hereunder “feeding apparatus (a)”) and eight feeding apparatus withfeed containers filled with 12.5 ml of gel probiotic composition(hereunder “feeding apparatus (b)”) were prepared.

[0107] Seven chick boxes were prepared in which each of the 4compartments separated by the partitions contained 25 chicken chicks(aged 0 days), along with 3 boxes in which the compartments contained nochicks.

[0108] (3) Test Methods

[0109] The following tests were performed using the aforementionedfeeding apparatus and chick boxes.

[0110] Five each of feeding apparatus (a) and feeding apparatus (b) weresuspended from the partition panels of five chick boxes containingchicks. Two feeding apparatus were suspended in each chick box so thateach feed container was positioned in a different chamber of the chickbox. Two of feeding apparatus (a) were suspended in each of two of thefive chick boxes, two of feeding apparatus (b) in each of two otherchick boxes, and one each of Feeding apparatus (a) and feeding apparatus(b) in the remaining chick box.

[0111] Neither feeding apparatus (a) nor feeding apparatus (b) wasinstalled in the remaining 2 chick boxes which contained chicks.

[0112] The five chick boxes with feeding apparatus and the two chickboxes without feeding apparatus were transported from Hatchery A inNiigata Prefecture to Farm B in Iwate Prefecture, and each feedingapparatus was weighed when the feeding apparatus was installed atHatchery A (3:30 p.m.), two hours after installation (5:30 p.m.) andupon arrival at Farm B (8:00 a.m. of the following day), and theingestion of gel probiotic composition per chick from each feedingapparatus calculated.

[0113] Upon departure from Hatchery A and upon arrival at Farm B, eachchick (total 200 chicks) in the chick boxes without feeding apparatus (2boxes), each chick (total 100 chicks) in the chick box with only feedingapparatus (a) (1 box) and each chick (total 100 chicks) in the chick boxwith only feeding apparatus (b) (1 box) was weighed, and the weightchange per chick calculated for each chick box. The chicks which hadbeen transported in each chick box were also weighed at age 1 week andage 2 weeks to track the growth of the chicks after arrival at Farm B.

[0114] In addition, three each of feeding apparatus (a) and feedingapparatus (b) were suspended from the partition panels of three chickboxes that did not contain chicks, and these chick boxes weretransported from Hatchery A to Farm B as described above. Spillage ofthe gel probiotic composition during transport was then inspected, eachfeeding apparatus was weighed two hours after installation (5:30 p.m.)and upon arrival at Farm B (8:00 the following morning), and the drying(weight loss) of gel probiotic composition calculated.

[0115] (4) Test Results

[0116] 1. Ingestion of Gel Probiotic Composition Per Chick from EachFeeding Apparatus

[0117] Ingestion per chick of gel probiotic composition from the 5feeding apparatus (a) was 0.93 g, 0.60 g, 0.79 g, 0.37 g and 0.76 g twohours after installation (average 0.69 g, s.d. 0.21 g), and 1.05 g, 0.98g, 0.98 g, 0.94 g and 0.95 g upon arrival at Farm B (average 0.98 g,s.d. 0.04 g).

[0118] Ingestion per chick of gel probiotic composition from the 5feeding apparatus (b) was 0.49 g, 0.51 g, 0.42 g, 0.49 g and 0.37 g twohours after installation (mean 0.46 g, s.d. 0.06 g), and 0.53 g, 0.51 g,0.51 g, 0.50 g and 0.51 g upon arrival at Farm B (mean 0.51 g, s.d. 0.01g).

[0119] The target ingestion of gel probiotic composition was 0.5 ml perchick.

[0120] Mean ingestion per chick of gel probiotic composition fromfeeding apparatus (a) was 0.69±0.21 g (≈ml) 2 hours after installation,meaning that the target feed ingestion was achieved with some variation,while upon arrival at Farm B it was 0.98±0.04 g (≈ml), meaning abouttwice the target amount was achieved. Upon arrival at Farm B, virtuallyall of the gel probiotic composition contained in each feed container offeeding apparatus (a) had been consumed.

[0121] Mean ingestion per chick of gel probiotic composition fromfeeding apparatus (b) was 0.46±0.06 g (≈ml) 2 hours after installation,meaning that 90% of the target feed ingestion was achieved, while uponarrival at Farm B it was 0.51±0.01 g (≈ml), meaning that the target feedingestion was achieved. Upon arrival at Farm B, all of the gel probioticcomposition contained in each feed container of feeding apparatus (b)had been consumed.

[0122] These results show that by using feeding apparatus 1 having theconstruction shown in FIGS. 1-3 as the feeding apparatus, andmaintaining the position of the gel probiotic composition at the heightof the chicks beaks when they are standing, it is possible to induce thechicks to ingest the necessary quantity of gel probiotic composition ina short period of time.

[0123] 2. Spillage and Drying of Gel Probiotic Composition DuringTransport

[0124] No spillage or loss of gel probiotic composition from the feedcontainers was observed in any feeding apparatus.

[0125] The drying loss of gel probiotic composition in the three feedingapparatus (a) was 1.9 g, 1.6 g and 1.56 g 2 hours after installation(mean 1.69 g, s.d. 0.19 g), and upon arrival at Farm B it was 10.41 g,11.39 g and 10.49 g (mean 10.76 g, s.d. 0.54 g).

[0126] The drying loss of gel probiotic composition in the three feedingapparatus (b) was 1.6 g, 1.14 g and 1.71 g 2 hours after installation(mean 1.48 g, s.d. 0.30 g), and upon arrival at Farm B it was 9.72 g,8.82 g and 9.71 g (mean 9.42 g, s.d. 0.52 g).

[0127] These results show that by using feeding apparatus 1 having theconstruction shown in FIGS. 1-3 as the feeding apparatus, it is possibleto prevent spillage of gel probiotic composition from the feedcontainers, and ensure that the gel probiotic composition contained inthe feed containers is supplied to the chicks. Moreover, the drying lossof gel probiotic composition was entirely from water evaporation, withno reason to suspect reduction in the bacteria contained in the gelprobiotic composition, so it appears that drying of the gel probioticcomposition does not detract from the effects of the probioticcomposition (the effect of forming the chicks' intestinal flora).

[0128] 3. Weight Change Per Chick in the Chick Boxes, and 1-Week and 2-Week Weights of Chicks Transported in the Chick Boxes

[0129] The mean weights per chick of the chicks in the 2 chick boxeswithout the feeding apparatus were 40.2±2.7 g and 39.7±3.2 g uponleaving Hatchery A, and 37.8±2.3 g and 37.5±2.8 g upon arrival at FarmB, a weight loss of 2.4 g and 2.2 g, respectively. The mean 1-weekweights of the chicks transported in these boxes were 79.7±5.8 g and79.9±4.9 g, while their mean 2-week weights were 136.5±10.9 g and137.0±9.2 g.

[0130] The mean weight per chick of the chicks in the box equipped withfeeding apparatus (a) only was 39.3±2.7 g upon leaving Hatchery A and37.6±2.3 g upon arrival at Farm B, a weight loss of 1.7 g. The mean1-week weight of the chicks that had been transported in this box was78.3±5.0 g, while their mean 2-week weight was 135.2±9.4 g.

[0131] The mean weight per chick of the chicks in the box equipped withfeeding apparatus (b) only was 40.1±2.6 g upon leaving Hatchery A and38.1±2.2 g upon arrival at Farm B, a weight loss of 1.9 g. The mean1-week weight of the chicks that had been transported in this box was80.3±5.9 g, while their mean 2-week weight was 137.4±11.5 g.

[0132] The weight loss per chick in the boxes without feeding apparatuswas 2.2 g to 2.4 g, while the weight loss per chick in the boxesequipped with feeding apparatus (a) or (b) was 1.7 g to 1.9 g,indicating that consumption of gel probiotic composition controlled thechicks' weight loss during transport. No obvious difference was seen inmean 1-week and 2-week weights of chicks that had been transported inthe boxes depending on whether the boxes were equipped with the feedingapparatus.

EXAMPLE 2

[0133] (1) Preparation of Colored and Uncolored Gel ProbioticComposition

[0134] As in Example 1, 500 ml of variant VL liquid medium premix wasdissolved in pure water, and after addition of 4 g of Ina agar (UM-11)(final agar concentration 0.8% (w/v)), high-pressure steam sterilizedfor 15 minutes at 121° C. and maintained at 43° C. This was theninoculated with 0.5 ml of Inteclean inoculum, and cultured anaerobicallyat 40° C. by the gas pack method to obtain a CE culture containing agar.

[0135] 49.5 ml of this CE culture was placed in a sterile bin, and 0.5ml of a 10% (w/v) Red No. 1 solution or a 10% (w/v) Blue No. 4 solutionadded (Red No. 1 final concentration 0.1% (w/v), Blue No. 4 finalconcentration 0.1% (w/v)).

[0136] 25.0 ml amounts of a sample of the CE culture to which neitherRed No. 1 nor Blue No. 4 had been added (hereunder “uncolored sample”),a sample of the CE culture to which Red No. 1 had been added (hereunder“red sample”) and a sample of the CE culture to which Blue No. 4 hadbeen added (hereunder “blue sample”) were poured into petri dishes andfeed containers of the feeding apparatus, solidified, and stored frozenin sealed containers until use.

[0137] ( 2 ) Ingestion Test of Colored and Uncolored Gel ProbioticComposition

[0138] Petri dishes containing the uncolored sample, the red sample andthe blue sample were placed on the floor of chick boxes, or feedingapparatus filled with the uncolored sample, the red sample and the bluesample were suspended from the partition panels of chick boxes, and usedto feed freely same-day (0 day old) and next-day (1 day old) chicks.Chicken chicks were used.

[0139] Of the four compartments of a chick box separated by partitionpanels, 10 chicks each were placed in two compartments, and petri dishescontaining uncolored feed placed on the floor to supply the chicks withuncolored feed (“Test Group 1”). Twenty-five chicks were placed in eachof the two remaining compartments, and a feeding apparatus filled withuncolored feed suspended from the partition panel separating the twocompartments to supply the chicks with uncolored feed (“Test Group 2”).

[0140] Of the four compartments of another chick box separated bypartition panels, 25 chicks each were placed in two compartments, and afeeding apparatus filled with red feed suspended from the partitionpanel separating the two compartments to supply the chicks with red feed(“Test Group 3”). 25 chicks each were placed in the remaining twocompartments, and a feeding apparatus filled with blue feed suspendedfrom the partition panel separating the two compartments to supply thechicks with blue feed (“Test Group 4”).

[0141] Each sample was weighed before being given to the chicks, andalso weighed at fixed intervals thereafter, and feed ingestion per chickwas calculated.

[0142] The feed ingestion of the same-day chicks is shown in Table 1 andthat of the next-day chicks in Table 2. TABLE 1 Elapsed time (hours)Test Group 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 6 8 1 0 g 0.4 g 0.4 g 0.6 g 1.7 g 2.0 g 2.0 g2.0 g 2 0 g 0.2 g 0.4 g 0.6 g 1.2 g 1.6 g 1.9 g 1.9 g 3 0 g 0 g 0.1 g0.2 g 0.5 g 1.1 g 1.4 g 1.7 g 4 0 g 0.1 g 0.2 g 0.4 g 1.3 g 1.9 g 2.0 g2.0 g

[0143] TABLE 2 Elapsed time (hours) Test Group 0 0.5 1 2 4 8 1 0 g 0.5 g0.5 g 1.1 g 1.3 g 1.7 g 2 0 g 1.2 g 1.8 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 3 0 g 1.1 g1.3 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 4 0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g 2.0 g

[0144] When chicks were fed by the conventional method by placinguncolored feed on the floor (Test Group 1), the same-day chicks fed well(see Table 1), but the next-day chicks did not (see Table 2). This isthought to be because same-day chicks are not yet steady on their feetand spend a lot of time sitting, making it easier for them to recognizeand ingest feed placed on the floor, while next-day chicks spend moretime standing, making it easier for them to recognize and ingest feedplaced at the height of their beaks.

[0145] Even though it was easier for the same-day chicks to recognizeand ingest feed placed on the floor, however, the blue feed contained inthe feeding apparatus (Test Group 4) was ingested in roughly the sameamount (see Table 1) as the uncolored feed placed on the floor (TestGroup 1). By contrast, the uncolored feed (Test Group 2) and red feed(Test Group 3) contained in the feeding apparatus was ingested in loweramounts than the uncolored feed (Test Group 1 ) placed on the floor (seeTable 1).

[0146] As mentioned above, it was easier for the next-day chicks torecognize and ingest feed placed at the height of their beaks, but ofthe uncolored, red and blue feeds contained in the feeding apparatus(Test Groups 2, 3 and 4), more of the blue feed was ingested (see Table2).

[0147] These results showed that chicks prefer feed that is colored blueover feed that is uncolored or colored red. Namely, it was shown that byadding blue color to gel probiotic composition contained in the feedcontainers of a feeding apparatus, it is possible to induce chicks toingest the necessary amount of gel probiotic composition in a shortperiod of time.

EXAMPLE 3

[0148] (1) Preparation of Uncolored and Colored Gel ProbioticComposition

[0149] A CE culture containing agar was obtained in the same way as inExample 2, and 49.5 ml of this CE culture was placed in a sterile binand 0.5 ml of a 10% (w/v) Blue No. 4 solution added (final Blue No. 4concentration 0.1% (w/v)) to obtained blue feed.

[0150] 48.9 ml of the CE culture was also placed in a separate sterilebin, and 0.1 ml of a 10% (w/v) Blue No. 4 solution and 1.0 ml of an 0.5%(w/v) phenol red solution added, followed by 0.5 ml of 1N hydrochloricacid to obtain green feed.

[0151] 25.0 ml each of uncolored CE culture (hereunder “uncolored feed”)the blue feed and the green feed were poured into petri dishes and thefeed containers of feeding apparatus, solidified, and stored frozen insealed containers until use.

[0152] (2) Ingestion Test of Uncolored and Colored Gel ProbioticComposition

[0153] Petri dishes containing uncolored, blue or green feed were placedon the floor of chick boxes, or feeding apparatus containing uncolored,blue or green feed were suspended from the partition panels of chickboxes, and same-day (0 day old) chicks given free access to the feed.Chicken chicks were used.

[0154] 10 chicks each were placed in two of four compartments of a chickbox separated by partition panels, and petri dishes containing uncoloredfeed placed on the floor to supply uncolored feed to the chicks (“TestGroup 1”). 25 chicks were placed in each of the remaining 2compartments, and a feeding apparatus containing uncolored feed wassuspended from the partition panel separating the two compartments tosupply uncolored feed to the chicks (“Test Group 2”).

[0155] 25 chicks each were placed in two of four compartments of anotherchick box separated by partition panels, and a feeding apparatuscontaining blue feed was suspended from the partition panel separatingthe two compartments to supply blue feed to the chicks (“Test Group 3”).25 chicks each were also placed in the remaining two compartments, and afeeding apparatus containing green feed was suspended from the partitionpanel separating the two compartments to supply green feed to the chicks(“Test Group 4”).

[0156] Each feed was weighed before being given to the chicks, and alsoat fixed intervals afterwards, and the ingestion per chick wascalculated from the amount of feed consumed. The feed ingestion of thesame-day chicks is shown in Table 3 below. TABLE 3 Elapsed Time (hours)Test Group 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 5 7 1 0 g 0.1 g 0.1 g 0.3 g 0.6 g 1.1 g 1.9 g2.5 g 2 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.2 g 0.5 g 0.8 g 1.0 g 1.2 g 3 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.3g 0.7 g 1.0 g 1.2 g 1.2 g 4 0 g 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.2 g 0.3 g 0.6 g 0.8 g

[0157] The same-day chicks ingested roughly the same amount of blue feedfrom the feeding apparatus (Test Group 3) as they did uncolored feedfrom the floor (Test Group 1). By contrast, they ingested less of theuncolored feed (Test Group 2) and green feed (Test Group 4) from thefeeding apparatus than they did uncolored feed from the floor (TestGroup 1) and blue feed from the feeding apparatus (Test Group 3).

[0158] These results show that chicks prefer blue colored feed to greencolored feed. In other words, blue coloring of the gel feed contained inthe feed container of the feeding apparatus is more effective atinducing chicks to consume the necessary amount of gel probioticcomposition in a short period of time than is green coloring.

EXAMPLE 4

[0159] (1) Preparation of Colored Gel Probiotic Compositions withDifferent Pigment Concentrations

[0160] CE culture containing agar was obtained in the same way as inExample 2, 4 sterile bins were filled with 50 ml each of this CEculture, and 0.5 ml, 0.2 ml 0.1 ml and 0.05 ml of a 10% (w/v) Blue No. 4solution added to final concentrations of 0.1% (w/v), 0.04% (w/v), 0.03%and 0.02% (w/v) of Blue No. 4.

[0161] 25.0 ml of each sample was poured into a feeding apparatus,solidified, and stored frozen in a sealed container until use.

[0162] (2) Ingestion Test of Colored Gel Probiotic Compositions withDifferent Pigment Concentrations

[0163] The same-day chicks (0 days old) were given free access to thesamples contained in the feeding apparatus. Chicken chicks were used.

[0164] 25 chicks each were placed in each of four compartments of achick box divided by partition panels, and feeding apparatuses filledwith the samples were suspended from the partition panels to supply feedto the chicks.

[0165] Each sample was weighed before being given to the chicks and atfixed intervals afterwards, and the ingestion per chick was calculatedfrom the amount of feed consumed.

[0166] The ingestion of the same-day chicks is shown in Table 4 below.TABLE 4 Elapsed Time (hours) Concentration 0 0.5 1 2 3.5 4.5 5.5 0.1% 0g 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.6 g 1.0 g 1.0 g 0.04% 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.3 g 0.6 g 0.9 g1.0 g 0.03% 0 g 0 g 0.1 g 0.2 g 0.7 g 1.0 g 1.0 g 0.02% 0 g 0 g 0 g 0.1g 0.4 g 0.9 g 1.0 g

[0167] Feed ingestion by the chicks did not vary greatly depending onthe concentration of Blue No. 4, but was slightly lower at 0.02%, whichis close to green, and slightly higher at 0.03%-0.04%.

[0168] The results indicate that chicks prefer blue colored feedindependent of the concentration of blue pigment. That is, by coloringblue the gel probiotic composition contained in the feed container of afeeding apparatus, it is possible to induce chicks to consume thenecessary amount of gel probiotic composition in a short period of timeregardless of the concentration of blue pigment in the gel probioticcomposition.

[0169] Industrial Applicability

[0170] With the feeding apparatus and feeding method of the presentinvention it is possible to induce chicks to consume feed efficiently bymaintaining or positioning the feed at the height of the chicks' beakswhen they are standing.

1. A feeding apparatus which can hold feed in a chick box and supply thefeed to chicks in the chick box, wherein the feed can be maintained atthe height of the chicks' beaks when they are standing.
 2. The feedingapparatus according to claim 1, comprising a feed container which has anaperture and can contain gel feed, wherein the feed container can bemaintained at the height of the chicks' beaks when they are standing. 3.The feeding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the feed containerhas a protrusion and/or indentation which can prevent spillage of thegel feed contained in the feed container.
 4. The feeding apparatusaccording to claim 2 or 3, comprising an aperture direction adjusterwhich can adjust the aperture direction of the aperture of the feedcontainer.
 5. The feeding apparatus according to any of claims 2-4,comprising a hanger which can hang on the top end portion of a sidepanel or partition panel of the chick box, and a suspender which cansuspend the feed container from the top end portion of a side panel orpartition panel of the chick box.
 6. The feeding apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein the hanger has an insertion hole into which can beinserted a protrusion provided at the top end portion of the side panelor partition panel of the chick box.
 7. The feeding apparatus accordingto claim 6, wherein a plurality of the feed containers are provided sothat the hanger is positioned between them.
 8. The feeding apparatusaccording to any of claims 1-7, being made of A-PET.
 9. A feeding methodfor placing feed in a chick box and supplying the feed to chicks in thechick box, wherein the feed is placed at the height of the chicks' beakswhen they are standing.
 10. The feeding method according to claim 9,wherein the feed is a gel feed.
 11. The feeding method according toclaim 10, wherein the feed is colored blue.